Course Overview: KINES 089 is a six-day wilderness orientation program that is offered to incoming students during the summer before the onset of the fall semester. This course includes four days of backpacking and one day of canoeing. Through these activities students can learn the various skills associated with backpacking and wilderness living.
Students are placed into small groups of eight to ten students with Penn State students and graduate students who mentor and lead the ORION experience. Small group discussions focus on student life at Penn State.
KINES 089 emphasizes teamwork, group living skills, and wilderness ethics. Through the first five days of the program these various topics are addressed. Equipment for all activities is provided. Incoming students with all levels of experience may take this course. A community service project is also required. A follow-up classroom session will take place on September 29 and 30 (you must attend on one of these two dates). During this time students will turn in their class assignments.
Program Director: Susanne Dubrouillet Morais
Office: Shaver's Creek Environmental Center
Mailing address: Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, Campus Mail
E-mail address: susanne1@psu.edu
Office phone: 814-863-2000
Course Dates (you will participate in ONE of these sessions):
July 18–23, July 26–31, August 8–13, or August 16–21, 2009
Location: All sessions will begin and end at the Agriculture Arena, located on Penn State's University Park campus. Backpacking and other various outdoor activities will occur in the ridge and valley region surrounding State College.
Course Goals:
Course Requirements:
ANGEL Course Management. We will use ANGEL, Penn State's Web-based course management system, to communicate with you, manage assignments and grades, and provide you with some ideas for community service. All assignments are listed under this course. It is available at https://cms.psu.edu.
Positive Participation and Completion of the Trip = 50 percent of course grade
This includes positive, interactive participation in EVERY aspect of the course. All participants are expected to participate actively in group teambuilding and icebreakers, evening meetings, campsite setup, food preparation, cleanup, etc. Failure to fully take part in these activities will be reported by group leaders and will be reflected in your final course grade.
Written Assignments = 30 percent of course grade
There are three written assignments for this course, each worth 10 percent of the final course grade.
Journal: You will receive a journal at the beginning of your ORION trip. You must write an entry in the journal for each day of the program week.
Goals Statement: After taking part in your ORION week, you will be required to write five goals and rewards for your first semester at Penn State. These will be handed in at the wrap-up session in October.
Reaction Paper: This paper should discuss what you learned on your ORION trip and how those lessons can be applied to your first semester at Penn State. This will also be turned in at the final wrap-up session.
Attendance at Final Wrap-Up Session = 10 percent of course grade University Park students are required to attend a final wrap-up session that will take place on October 1 and 2 in the evening (students will receive an e-mail indicating the two evening dates and times to choose from). All assignments are due at this session. Community Service = 10 percent of course grade
Students are required to complete four hours of community service on or near their Penn State campus. This gives students an opportunity to learn about service opportunities in their communities as well as another time to meet new students. The four-hour requirement must be documented and a signature of a supervisor is required. For community service opportunities, visit www.sa.psu.edu/engage or contact engage@sa.psu.edu. You may also choose a community service project of your own choice at the campus where you will attend Penn State (clean up after football games, donate time to the American Red Cross, volunteer to help a professor, or organize a project with your group—the sky is the limit!).
Conduct: It is expected that all students participating in KINES 089 will abide by all University policies and rules (http://www.sa.psu.edu/ja) while participating in course-related activities.
Students found in violation of University policies may receive a failing grade for the course, a reduction of their grade, and/or be referred to the Office of Judicial Affairs. In addition, any student, regardless of age, who uses or is under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol while participating in any part of ORION will be removed from the course and receive a failing grade.
Penn State Statement on Academic Integrity: According to the University Advising Handbook: Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity free from fraud and deception, and is the educational objective of this institution. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, fabrication of information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person, or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students. Any violation of academic integrity will be thoroughly investigated, and where warranted, punitive action will be taken.
Students with Disabilities: Physically and academically qualified students with disabilities are welcomed in this course. If you have a disability-related need for accommodations or modifications in this course, you should contact your instructor (Susanne Dubrouillet; see contact info. above) and the Office for Disability Services (116 Boucke Building; 814-863-1807; http://www.equity.psu.edu/ods/index.html). Please notify the instructor as early as possible.
Plagiarism: It is essential to understand what constitutes plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting someone else's work as your own. It constitutes academic dishonesty and may result in a failing grade for the course. Before writing your paper, you should visit and carefully read the following Web site: http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/cyberplag/cyberplagstudent.html.